Tongs.



E.Y.MO0RE. TONGS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 15, 1915.

1,184,367. Patented May'23,1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

1 @65 fi iy E. Y. MOORE.

TONGS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 15, 1915.

1,184,367. Patented May23, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

EDWARD Y. MOORE, F CLEVELAND, OHIO.

TONGS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 23, 1916.

Application filed December 15, 1915. Serial No. 67,000.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD Y. Moore, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Tongs, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

The object of this invention is to provide a simple, efficient, and conveniently operable device for engaging or gripping articles for the purpose of hoisting or conveying the same. My tongs are adapted to be operated very quickly, either to engage or release the article, and when so engaging they have a firm hold thereon. These characteristics of celerity of operation and certainty of engagement make my tongs very desirable for use in connection with the raising or transetc.

In the particular embodiment of my invention shown herein the tongs are adapted to extend around and grasp a body having a convex or cylindrical surface, as for example, a shell or projectile. When so used the tongs may be readily opened, lowered over the shell or like article lying on its side, and rigidly clamped in engagement therewith before raising the article above the surface on which it may be resting.

My invention is hereinafter more fully described in connection with the drawings, and the essential characteristics are set forth in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of my tongs showing the same in engagement with a cylindrical article; Fig.

2 is a side elevation of the same taken at right angles to the plane of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a sectional detail through the joint and locking mechanism of my tongs taken substantially on the line 33 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a sectional detail taken longitudinally of the pivot or the tongs.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, 5 and 6 indicate the jaws of my tongs, shown as hinged together at their upper ends by a pivot pin 15. Each jaw, as shown, has a curved web portion 7 bounded by flanges or ribs 8 at each edge. These ribs extend inwardly at the sides of the webs to meet the curved surface of a shell or like article indicated at 20, and they extend outwardly for strengthening and stiffening purposes. In-

portation of ammunition, shells, projectiles,

termediate of the ribs 8, I prefer to provide nwardly projecting ribs 14 and 16 extend mg transversely of the jaws on the inner face of the webs 7. Thus the ribs 8, 14 and 16 provide the surfaces adapted to engage the article to be carried.

The webs and ribs extend upwardly from the curved or engaging portions and are made integral with circular bosses 9 and 10, on the members 5 and 6 respectively, embracing the pivot pin 15. Securing pins 11 are shown as extending through the bosses to hold the pivot in position. As shown the bosses of each jaw are separated, the bosses 10 extending outside of the bosses 9 which are also separated, leaving an inter mediate space bridged by the pivot pin, which may be engaged at this point by a suitable hook 12, attached to a chain 13 or other member carried by a conveying 0r hoisting means. The provision of the exposed central portion of the pivot pin 15 is a valuable feature as it enables the raising hook to be close to the shell or other article grasped, thus economizing head room. Moreover, the tongs will always hang centrally beneath the support.

The length of the jaws of the tongs is preferably such that they may reach sufficiently below the center of the article to firmly hold the same and yet may be above the surface on which the article rests, so that it is not necessary to raise the article in order to grasp the same with my tongs. This obviates the undesirable feature of raising a shell or like article to pass ropes or chains beneath it for carrying the article.

The web 7 of the aw 5 is shown as extending upwardly at 22 and carrying outwardly projecting ears 23, between which is pivoted one end of a link 25 by means of a pivot pin 26 extending through the ears. The link passes through a slot indicated at 27 in the upwardly extending portion 22 of the web and through an inwardly flaring opening 30 formed in an upwardly extendirg portion 31 of the web of the jaw 6. The opening 30 is shown as formed in a boss 32 through which the link 25 extends. Outside of the boss 32 the link carries a transverse pin 35 on which is pivoted a bifurcated eccentric member 36 straddling the link and having a lever 38 by which the eccentric may be swung about the pin 35.

As a means for spreading the tongs I have provided compression springs 40 located at each side of the link 25 and between the portions 22 and 31 of the webs. These compres sion springs are normally positioned by in wardly extending lugs, indicated at 42, embraced by the ends of the springs.

The operation of my device is as follows: When the handle 38 is swung upwardly a shorter portion of the cam 36 permits the boss 32 to move tow rd the pin 35 under the influence of the springs 40, whereby the jaws are separated. The lower ends thereof are thus spread sufliciently to permit them to pass freely over the shell to be grasped. The lever 38 may then be swung clownwardly operating the cam 36 to swing the jaws inwardly and cause them to tightly engage the surface of the shell.

The cam preferably has a flattened portion shown as in engagement with the surface of the boss which prevents inadvertent movement of the cam and accordingly prevents the loosening of the grip of the jaws. After looking the jaws over the surface of the shell, any suitable trolley or hoisting device carrying the tongs by such means as the chain and hook 12, may serve to raise and convey the article.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a pair of tongs, the combination of two jaws,a common pivot pin by which they are hinged together at their upper ends, said pin having an exposed central portion by which the tongs may be supported, and means engaging both jaws below the pivot pin for drawing the jaws in closed position.

2. In a pair of tongs, the combination of two jaws having engaging portions and arms rigid therewith, a common pivot pin, separated bearing portions on each jaw adapted to engage the pivot pin leaving a space between two of said portions for engaging the pivot pin by an independent raising means, and means independent of the article grasped for forcing the jaws together.

3. In a pair of tongs, the combination of two jaws having engaging portions and arms rigid therewith, a pivot pin, a pair of separated bearing portions rigid with each jaw and adapted to engage the pivot pin, one pair adapted to straddle the other and the inner pair leaving an exposed portion of the pivot pin adapted to be engaged by a supporting means, and means independent of the article grasped for drawing the jaws together. I v

4-. In a device of the character described, the combination with a pair of jaws, of a pin on which the jaws are pivoted near one end, a link pivoted to one of the jaws and extending transversely of the other, a cam carried by the link, and means for operating the cam to draw the jaws together.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination with a pair of jaws, of a pin on which the jaws are pivoted, a link pivoted to one of the jaws and extending through an opening in the other, a cam carried by thelink, means for operating the cam to draw the jaws together, and spring means tending to separate thejaws.

(5. In a pair of tongs, the combination of two jaws having engaging portions adapted to grip a cylindrical surface, arms rigid with the jaws and having bearing portions, a pin pivotally engaging such bearing portions, a link pivoted to one of the arms and extending through an opening in the other arm, a cam pivotally carried by the link and adapted to bear against the adjacent arm, means for operating the cam to bring the jaws together, and a pair of compression springs between said arms and on opposite sides of the link and tending to separate the jaws. V

7 In a pair of tongs, the combination of two jaws having engaging portions and arms rigid therewith, a pivot pin, a pair of separated bearing portions rigid with each jaw and adapted to engage the pivot pin, one pair adapted to straddle the other and the inner pair leaving an exposed portion of the pivot pin, a link pivotedto one of the arms below the pivot pin and extending transversely beyond the other arm, a cam device pivotally carried by the link and adapted to bear against such other arm.

8. In a pair of tongs, the combination of two jaws having engaging portions and arms rigid therewith, a common pivot pin by which said arms are hinged together, the arms having bearing portions which embrace the pin but leave an exposed central portion adapted for engagement by a separate supporting device, and means coacting with the two arms below their pivot for drawing the jaws toward each other.

9. In a pair of tongs, the combination of two coacting members pivoted together adjacent their upper ends, each member comprising a .curved web portion having an upwardly extending arm, said webs and arms being bounded by edge flanges, and means located below the pivot and above the curved webs for drawing the members together, said means engaging the two arms between the two flanges thereof.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto affix my signature.

EDWARD Y. MOORE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0. 

